South Australia’s Strategic Plan is comprised of 100 targets. These targets are specific and measurable and enable us to measure our progress towards achieving the Plan’s visions and goals.

Each target is reported on through this section of the website. Data is analysed and uploaded as it becomes available.

Target:

22. Road safety:

Reduce road fatalities and serious injuries by at least 30% by 2020

Key Measure

Explanatory Comments

Target 22 aims to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries by at least 30% by 2020. It has a three year baseline period (2008 to 2010).

For the purposes of this target, persons killed or injured in road crashes include vehicle occupants and other road users (motorcyclists, pedestrians and cyclists.)

Road Fatalities

During the three year period from 2008 to 2010 there were 336 road fatalities in South Australia, equating to an average of 112 per year. In 2014, this had decreased to 108 road fatalities; however this result is highest since 2010. In 2015 (the latest preliminary data available), this decreased to 102 road fatalities(preliminary figure).

A 30% reduction in road fatalities by 2020 equates to a target of 78.

Serious Injuries

During the three year period from 2008 and 2010 there was an average of 1,126 serious injuries as a result of road crashes in South Australia. By 2014, this number had reduced to 721, which is the lowest serious injury total on record. In 2015, this number is 756 (preliminary figure), exceeding the 30% reduction target

Further information - Note that 2015 data is preliminary and subject to change

Fatal crashes in the Adelaide metropolitan area have decreased from 35 in 2013 to 34 in 2014 but increased to 38 in 2015. Rural crashes have increased from 54 in 2013 to 62 in 2014 but decreased to 58 in 2015.

Fatalities amongst young road users, ages 16-24, increased from 15 in 2013 to 17 in 2014, but decreased to 16 in 2015 and are below the previous 5 year average of 18 fatalities (2010-2014).

Older road user fatalities aged 70+ increased from 22 in 2014 to 23 in 2015, and 3 more than the previous 5 year average 2010-2014.

The number of fatal crashes on 110km/h roads increased by 79% from 14 crashes in 2013 to 24 crashes in 2014 and 28 in 2015 and above the 5 year average of 21 crashes. Fatal crashes on 100 km/h roads decreased from 32 crashes in 2014 to 18 crashes in 2015 and below the 5 year average of 24.

Serious injuries have increased from 711 in 2014 to 756 in 2015 yet below the previous (2010 – 2014) average 849 serious injuries per year.

Towards Zero Together

Target 22 is consistent with ‘Towards Zero Together—South Australia’s Road Safety Strategy 2020’, which similarly aims for a reduction in road fatalities and serious injuries of at least 30% by 2020. The Road Safety Strategy specifies targets of less than 80 fatalities and 800 serious injuries per year by 2020. These figures are slightly different to the target numbers used in the South Australia’s Strategic Plan (78 and 788 respectively), as precise numbers when have been used calculating the targeted 30% reduction.